The Commissioner of An Garda Síochána has this evening welcomed the announcement that the Minister for Justice, Equality & Defence has referred the matters raised by the confidential reporters on the Fixed Charge Penalty Notice System to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
Commissioner Callinan speaking this evening at Garda Headquarters:
"I have been in dialogue with the Minister for Justice, Equality & Defence on this matter over the last number of days and, to that end, I look forward to co-operating fully with the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission in its examination of these matters.
"It is critical that the Fixed Charge Penalty Notice System retains the support of the public so that it continues to play an important role in improving road safety.
"As I told the Public Accounts Committee, An Garda Síochána is committed to engaging with all its employees and any member of An Garda Síochána who wishes to report wrong-doing within the organisation will be fully supported and afforded every protection. In that regard, I also look forward to the inclusion of An Garda Síochána under the Protected Disclosures Bill 2013.
"I want to once again state that An Garda Síochána remains as committed as ever to full accountability to the Oireachtas and the citizens of this country."
